Patient Safety Resources

What can I do to learn about patient safety?

Watch the Show Your Commitment to Patient Safety video (a 2 minute video; requires media player)
Read about Speak Up For Safety. This Web site helps patients learn to work with their health care providers.

The UVa Health System can help you:

Learn as much as possible about your illness and treatment options. Write down your questions and practice asking them.
Learn the medications you take and why. Here is a Personal Medicine List you can print out.
Learn to take your medicines safely.
Learn to prevent falls or injuries in your own home.

UVa employees keep patients safe by following:

Where can I find more information about Patient Safety?

Visit the Patient Safety Practices (PSP) Web site, a new online resource for health care professionals and the public.
Visit the Web site of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). AHRQ is a federal agency that works to improve health care for all Americans.
Visit the Web site of the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF). NPSF is an organization that works to improve patient safety and reduce medical errors.
Visit the Web site of the National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Learn about their safety program.
Use Medlineplus.gov to search for health information. Medlineplus provides up-to-date information about medicines and diseases. It is also available in Spanish.
If you are a UVa Employee, visit the UVa Health System Patient Safety Program page to learn more.

Ensuring Your Safe Care

There are many things you can do to be an informed, active participant in your health care and so increase your health care safety.

Learn as much as possible about your illness and treatment options. Know what medications you take and why. Write down your questions and practice asking them.
Pay attention to and report your symptoms—pain, nausea, drowsiness, etc.—or if something just doesn’t “feel right”.
Let your health care team know about all your medicines, including over the counter or herbals, allergies, and situations in which you have had complications or reactions to medicines or treatments. Be sure they have any important health information about you.
Be sure health care providers correctly identify you by looking at your identification bracelet.
Ask health care providers to identify themselves and explain what they are doing.
Be sure all who have direct contact with you wash their hands.
Ask a family member or friend to be present when talking with your physician or others to help recall what was said, to take notes, or to ask questions.
Pay attention to the care you are receiving and make sure you are getting the right treatments and medications by the right health care providers. Always ask what the treatment or medicine is for and how it might help you. Speak up if you have questions or concerns.
Side rails are on the bed for your safety. Use the call button if you need help.
If you are leaving your room, let your nurse know. Wear shoes or safety skid slippers.
You are the center of your health care team. No question is insignificant. Ask about anything and everything you don’t understand.

For Family and Friends

Your family and friends play a significant role in your health and well-being. Everyone who is sick needs someone who can look out for their best interests and help navigate the healthcare system. Identify one person to be your spokesperson or “advocate.” Let your health care team know who this person is. Your advocate is a partner in your care and can help us understand your specific needs and preferences, ensure your care needs are met after hospitalization, and help you understand your options, treatments and plan of care. You can informally designate this person or legally designate him/her through a:

Durable Power of Attorney (naming a person to make legal/financial decisions) and/or
Agent for Health Care Decisions (naming a person to make medical decisions).